Closing-die.



C. SONNEBORN.

CLOSING DIE.

APPLICATION r1150 APR. 1. 1914.

111,625. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR N C. SONNEBORN.

CLOSING DIE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS$HEET 2.

4 I{INVENTORI r I wf m- WW COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0, WASHINGTON, l. c

fore described and shown. actuated by any suitable press, the bottom UNITED STATS ATETNT FFIQE.

CHARLES SONNEBORN, OF WEST PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PRESSED METAL "RADIATOR. COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOSING-DIE.

Application filed April 1, 1914.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES SoNNEBoRN, a resident of West Pittsburg, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Closing-Dies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dies for closing the seams of sheet metal articles.

The object of the invention is to provide dies for this purpose which are adjustable both longitudinally and transversely so as to adapt them for closing the seams of similar articles of different sizes and shapes, in which the various parts of thedie are formed in separate pieces so that each can be accurately shaped, and dies in which the wearing parts can be readily replaced when worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide dies of thetype described which are of simple construction and in which the W01k ing faces are as free from joints as it is pos- 'sibleflto makethem and thereby avoid leaving imprints of the dies on the article being formed.

In the drawings, the invention 1s shown embodied in dies for closing, that is, pressing tightly together, the seam or joint around the edges of sections of sheet metal radiators, but obviously the principle of construction of the dies may be adapted for closing the joints of various articles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of one of the dies; Fig. 2 is partly a side elevation and partly a longitudinal section thereof on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is partly an end elevation and partly a cross section on the line 88, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view, of an end steel support of a different size from that shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of an end steel corresponding to the end steel for the support shown in Fig. 4.

The dies hereinafter described and shown in the drawings are used in pairs, namely,

upper and lower dies, which are of identical construction, only one thereof being there- The dies are die being suitably secured to the frame or .bed plate of the press and the top die being carried by the vertically movable platen or :press head. I The means for securing these Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Serial No. 828,861. I

dies to the press head and platen may be.

braced at intervals by cross webs 1. The

web 2 is provided at intervals with transversely elongated slots 5 for receiving bolts 6 which are threaded into apertures 12 in a base or bolster plate for securing the side a steel supports thereto. Said base or bolster plate is provided with one or a. plurality, two being shown, of transverse grooves or channels 8, for receiving guide strips 9 which bottom faces of the webs 2 of the side steel support, and which are secured to said supports by tap screws 11 threaded through the guide strips from below into the webs 2.

lit in registering transverse grooves 10 in the j The base or bolster plate is provided with several series of apertures 12 for the tap bolts 6, so that the side steel supports can be placed at different distances from each other to accommodate radiator sections of different widths, and are held positively in paralstrips 9 in the grooves 8 and 10.

The vertical walls 3 are rabbeted on their inner faces, as at 15, to receive side die mem bers 14:, which consist of long, rectangular steel bars or strips and are secured to the side steel supports by tap bolts 15 threaded into holes in said die members through elongated apertures 16 in the wall portions 3. These die members can be turned over and reversed end for end to renew the wearing edges, and can be readily replaced when wholly worn out.

At each end of the die is located an end steel support 20 which is made of a length corresponding with the width of the particusizes of end steel supports may be provided so as to adapt the dies for a full line of various sizes and shapes 1 of radiator section.

The end steel support is substantially L- 'lel relation with each other by the guide a bottom web 21 provided at intervals with elongated bolt holes 22 for receiving tap bolts 23 which are threaded into holes 2% in,

the base or bolster plate for securing the end steel support thereto. The base or bolster plate is provided with several series or sets of holes 24: to enable the end steel supports to be secured thereto in various positions to accommodate radlator sections of varying length. Said base or bolster plate is also provided with a longitudinal groove or channel 25 for receiving a guide or strip 26, which fits a corresponding groove or depression 27 in the end steel support, and which is secured thereto by tap screws 28. These guide strips maintain the end steel supports in parallel relation to each other and exactly at right angles to the side steel supports in their various adjusted positions. 7

The horizontal web portion 21 of the end steel support has a thickened portion 29 extending crosswise of the die and at its fends having longitudinal extensions 30 the upper face of this thickened portion'being a plain l'iori'iental surface and forming a seat for an end die member 31. Said die member has a straight portion extending crosswise of the die and fitting in the corner between the thickened portion 29 and the vertical web portion 20 of the end steel support and is curved "at each end to form longitudinal ektensions 32 which rest, on the longi'utdinal extensions 30 of the thickened portion of the end steel support. The eurvedend portions of the end die members are 'cut away on their inner, sides, as at 33, so that their inner upper edges '34 form continuation-s 'of the edges of the side die members 15. The flat upper face of the end die member also lies in "the same plane as the upper face of the side die metrnber 15, the upper faces of the two side die members and of the two end die m'emb'ers forming thejworking faces of the die. The end die members 31 are secured to ,the end steel supports 20 by tap bolts threaded through holes in the verti- Cal web portions 36 of the end steelsupports in the said die members.

Both the end and side steel supports are supported against lateral movement, that is,

are prevented from spreading outwardly by end and side stops, 40 consisting of angle members secured infthe longitudinal and cross grooves in the bolster plate and provided with set screws or bolts 41 'vvhi'eh are adjusted into contact with the edges of the steel supports.

outer faces er The bolts 41 may also be 'used for fine'adiustm'ents of the steel supports.

By adjusting the end steel supports and the die members carried thereby toward and from each other, the dies will accommodate radiator sections of different lengths, but of the same width. To accommodate radiator sections of different widths the side steel supports are adjusted across the die with reference to each other and other end steel supports of the proper width are substituted in the die. As the die members wear out they can be readily replaced without dismantling the entire construction. The dies are very simple, can be accurately manufactured and enable the seams of pressed metal radiators or other articles to be closed without leaving an imprint of the dies thereon. The dies also provide a continuous, flat working surface which can be of any width and therefore acts over the full surface of the seam to be elo'sed-i lVhat I claim is i' p 1. A die forfclosing the seams of sheet metal articles, comprising a base or bolster plate, side steel supports carrying side die members and each adjustable widthwi'se of the die, "and a series of interchangeable end steel supports seeured to said bolster plate 'hlelllb l'S and provided with guide strips working in the transverse grooves of the bolster-plate and adapted to be secured to said bolster plate in various adjusted positions, "and end "steel supports earrying e'nd die nei'nbers and provided with guide strips workingin the longitudinal roove of said bolster plate and adjustable toward and from each other.

3-. A "die for "closing the seams of sheet ni'etal articles, com rising base or bolster plate, jsi'de steel supports secured thereto and provided with side the irrembers, end steel supportslocated between the side steel supports and provided with end die members, eachofsaid end steel supports being indeendently adjustablelengthwise of the 'die and each of said side supports being independently adjust-able 'wi'dthwis'e of the die.

4. A die for closing,- "the seams of sheet metal articles, comprising base orgbolster plate, side steel supports carrying side die members and each arranged to beseoured to said base plate adjusted position widthwise thereof, and end steel supports located between the *side steel supports provided with end die members.

5. A die for closing the seams of "sheet metal articles, comp'rising a base or bolster plate, side steel supports carrying side die members and secured to said base "or bolster piat em supports provided with guide strips working in the longitudinal groove of said bolster plate and independently adjust- Ighe working surfaces of the side die memers.

6. A die for closing the seams of sheet metal articles, comprising a base or bolster plate, side die members secured thereto, end steel supports extending crosswise of the die between the side die members, and curved end die members carried by said end steel supports, said end die members being independently adjustable toward and from each other upon said bolster plate.

7. A die for closing the seams of sheet metal articles, comprising a base or bolster plate having transverse grooves, side steel supports carrying side die members and provided with guide strips working in the transverse grooves of the bolster plate and arranged to be secured to said bolster plate in Various adjusted positions, and end steel supports carrying end die members and arranged transversely between said side supports.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES SONNEBORN. WVitnesses:

WILLIAM B. WHARTON, ELBERT L. HYDE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

